Gaffney was considered a significant signing some six weeks back, the expectation being that his route-running and experience would bring the complementary third receiver the Dolphins had been lacking behind Brian Hartline and Davone Bess. …

Yesterday, the sports talk conversation was dominated by one topic – which team is the front-runner to sign Peyton Manning?

The off-shore gambling sites and many media outlets – including this one – consider the Dolphins and Cardinals as the favorite to sign Manning, with the Seahawks, Redskins, Jets and possibly Browns also in the hunt.

Most general managers and head coaches from the 32 NFL teams addressed the media last weekend at the NFL Combine, to discuss not only their thoughts on this year’s NFL Draft prospects, but also about their team’s plans heading into free agency, which begins March 13.

Here are 24 notes from around the league, many of which pertain to the Dolphins:

One photo that’s gotten a lot of play this week is the shot from last Sunday of veteran outside linebacker Jason Taylor wrapping his arms around coach Tony Sparano in a hug in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over Oakland. Taylor’s status for next season is a good place to start our Friday talking points.

1. Tony Sparano would like to have JT back next season, and there’s a good …

Fifth-year linebacker Bobby Carpenter endeared himself to Miami coaches and fans when, less than two weeks after arriving in town, he stuffed Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson on the goal line to preserve the Dolphins’ Week 2 win over the Vikings.

But Carpenter quickly found himself in the doghouse thanks to two special teams errors against the Patriots, which resulted in a blocked punt and a kickoff return for a touchdown. …

The Dolphins practiced 15 times this summer in offseason workouts, spent five weeks in training camp and have practiced for five weeks in the regular season, but apparently that’s not enough time to hone the various fundamentals.

While the Dolphins and New England are both idle this weekend, there is one huge game involving the AFC East race: Minnesota at the New York Jets Monday night. That’s where we start our Sunday talking points:…